text_original: In this rough age the Church was obliged to fight INTRODUCTION 7 for its own possessions and privileges, and while its political power increased its religious enthusiasm de  clined ; learning was kept alive, but could make no pro  gress in days of distraction and danger ; the religion of the people was strangely compounded of superstition and fear. As the century drew near its end the clouds began Revival in to lift.
text_transcription: IN THIS ROUGH AGE THE CHURCH WAS OBLIGED TO FIGHT FOR ITS OWN POSSESSIONS AND PRIVILEGES WHILE ITS POLITICAL POWER INCREASED ITS RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM DECLINED LEARNING WAS KEPT ALIVE BUT COULD MAKE NO PROGRESS IN DAYS OF DISTRACTION AND DANGER THE RELIGION OF THE PEOPLE WAS STRANGELY COMPOUNDED OF SUPERSTITION AND FEAR AS THE CENTURY DREW NEAR ITS END THE CLOUDS BEGAN TO LIFT
phonemes: ɪn ðɪs ɹˈʌf ˈeɪdʒ ðə tʃˈɜːtʃ wʌz əblˈaɪdʒd tə fˈaɪt ˌɪntɹədˈʌkʃən sˈɛvən fɔːɹ ɪts ˈoʊn pəzˈɛʃənz ænd pɹˈɪvᵻlɪdʒᵻz, ænd wˌaɪl ɪts pəlˈɪɾɪkəl pˈaʊɚɹ ɪŋkɹˈiːst ɪts ɹᵻlˈɪdʒəs ɛnθˈuːziˌæzəm də klˈaɪnd ; lˈɜːnɪŋ wʌz kˈɛpt ɐlˈaɪv, bˌʌt kʊd mˌeɪk nˈoʊ pɹˈoʊ ɡɹˈɛs ɪn dˈeɪz ʌv dɪstɹˈækʃən ænd dˈeɪndʒɚ ; ðə ɹᵻlˈɪdʒən ʌvðə pˈiːpəl wʌz stɹˈeɪndʒli kɑːmpˈaʊndᵻd ʌv sˈuːpɚstˈɪʃən ænd fˈɪɹ. æz ðə sˈɛntʃɚɹi dɹˈuː nˌɪɹ ɪts ˈɛnd ðə klˈaʊdz bɪɡˈæn ɹᵻvˈaɪvəl ɪn tə lˈɪft.